From a press release:

PIRELLI TO PRESENT FREE TIRE SEMINARS AT LAGUNA SECA RACE WEEKEND IN CONJUNCTION WITH APRILIA

Pirelli has announced that company tech representatives will be conducting free tire seminars during the upcoming Laguna Seca AMA/World Superbike race weekend, July 13 and 14.

The seminars will be held at the infield Aprilia display area as part of a joint activity between the Italian premium-tire maker, and the famed Italian bike manufacturer that features Pirelli’s high-performance street tires as OE on many of its models.

The 45-minute seminars are designed to be both entertaining and highly informative. Subjects will include the tires’ role in transferring power to the ground, in steering, braking and acceleration, in working with the bike’s suspension, and in carrying the bike’s weight. A particularly interesting portion will cover how the increased needs of today’s riders, combined with the rapid advancements in motorcycle technology, require the highest level of tire development in such areas as mileage, wet and dry grip, handling and stability are how these demands are met in tire construction, contour and weight, and tread compound and design.

The seminars will help educate consumers on the different tire constructions, from bias to belted to radial, including, of course, Pirelli’s patented 0 steel-belted radial construction. Other subjects will cover how tread compound affects mileage, how tread pattern design affects mileage and grip, and how to ride safely. A question-and-answer session will follow each seminar.

Alberto Warburg, Pirelli’s North American Marketing Manager explained the rationale behind the seminars. “We want more consumer contact. We don’t want tires to be a mystery. We want people to understand them and how they work through more personal contact directly with our technical people. We want to do more than advertising and PR, we want to share our knowledge, technology and passion with consumers. That is why we are doing these seminars at Laguna and places like Americade and Honda Hoot. At Pirelli, our passion is motorcycle tires. We want to share this with riders who also feel passionate about their bikes and riding. Business does not just get done in big offices high up in big buildings. Good business also means getting out and getting in touch with your consumers.”

Everyone is invited to attend. Check the Pirelli tent in the Aprilia display area for seminar times over the two days.

Pirelli has emerged as a major player in roadracing over the past couple years, mainly on the strength of its Supercorsa DOT radials, and slicks. Pirelli tires dominated the just-completed 2002 Isle of Man TTs, and Supercorsas were chosen by Honda’s World Supersport factory team as the tire of choice for its 2002 assault on the World Supersport championship.

From a press release:

VIR test a success

June 20, 2002 – Alton, VA. After spending two days in the Southeast, piloting his Kawasaki Superbike through the turns at Virginia International Raceway (www.VIRclub.com) and showing off his new wild hairdo, Eric Bostrom came away from the test confident enough to label it a success. “Our pre-test setup was good going into the test and proved to be a winner, so we didn’t really have much to test. Of course, we still went through some suspension pieces and tried a number of things with the front end. The bike still seems a little too harsh on the bumps, but I’m pretty happy with how things went. In fact, I went over a second faster during the test on race tires (running consistent mid-1:25s) than I did last year on a Qualifier. So it’s all positive. Running the extra World Superbike rounds this year has really helped both my confidence and the team’s ability to set up the bike. Our learning curve has really steepened by being over there and our bike set-up is better now than it’s been all year. It’s also helped my riding and been a bit of a catalyst to my season.”

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With the big Laguna Seca weekend approaching, Eric is looking forward to making another strong showing in World Superbike, although he realizes he faces stiff competition at his favorite track. “I know my brother and Neil (Hodgson) were tough last year. And all the World Superbike guys ride hard all the time and then there’s that war between (Troy) Bayliss and (Colin) Edwards; those guys have been tough and incredibly fast this year. It’s basically going to be an all-out battle with those guys. So honestly, it’s going to be really tough to get on the podium, but I’m going to try really hard to make it happen. My fans expect that. It won’t be for a lack of effort if it doesn’t happen, that’s for sure.”

Back in the AMA Superbike Championship, Eric is experiencing a strong surge to his season, finishing on the podium in the last four consecutive Superbike races. In fact, Eric has managed to cut Nicky Hayden’s huge 80 point lead in half, taking it down to a reachable 40 points. But how does he feel about his chances to improve on his 2nd place finish in last year’s Championship and actually win the Superbike title this year? “It’s still a long shot, of course. But honestly, I’m not thinking about that at all right now. I want to see if we can win Brainerd first. That would be a huge confidence boost, and then, of course, I can’t wait for Laguna. I always feel confident about that one. So who knows? I do think that we can go strong in the last six races (4 rounds, 2 doubleheaders).”

If Nicky cracks under the pressure and makes a mistake, Eric might indeed end up surprising everyone for the Championship.

Eric Bostrom continues to be proudly sponsored by:
Kawasaki (www.Kawasaki.com and www.Kawasaki-Eckl.com)
RedBull (www.RedBull.com)
Alpinestars (www.Alpinestars.com)
Arai (www.AraiAmericas.com)
Oakley (www.Oakley.com)
Airtrix (www.Airtrix.com)
Ecko (www.Ecko.com)
Dunlop (www.DunlopMotorcycle.com)
Maxima (www.MaximaUSA.com)
Lockhart Phillips (www.LockhartPhillips.com)
Akrapovic (www.Akrapovic-ai.si)
Ohlins (www.Ohlins.com)

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Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The scoring pylon in the infield at Catalunya, showing John “Hopper” Hopkins #21 on top of the order with about three minutes left in final MotoGP qualifying. Others listed include Valentino Rossi (46), Max Biaggi (3), Loris Capirossi (65) and Tohru Ukawa (11).

When all was said and done, Hopkins qualified 6th fastest. He finished 10th in the race.

Photo by Greg Sachs.

From a press release:

Federal Mogul Corporation, worldwide holder of the Ferodo Friction Products Group has appointed Tucker Rocky Distributing as exclusive importer and distributor of the motorcycle/ATV product range. Clearly the partnership is intended to aggressively move the brand forward with a serious commitment to the expansive U.S. market.

BrakeTech’s Jeff Gehrs, who has been the U.S. master distributor for Ferodo, will continue with the company in a role focused on technical support and racing promotions including handling Ferodo’s highly specialized competition-only products.

In tandem with this fundamental shift in the brake pad aftermarket, is the announcement of the all new SinterGrip XR racing only limited pad range. This is the pad used extensively by the factory teams of Honda, Yamaha and Ducati in the World 600cc Supersport and Superbike Series. Details on this new compound will be forthcoming shortly.

From a press release:

Representatives of Air Fence Safety Systems are completing assembly of 225 feet of Air Fence* Bike to be used at Pacific Raceways by the Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association.

This will be deployed for the WMRRA races this weekend including the Adrenaline Freaks Track Day on Friday. The 225 feet of Air Fence Bike is in addition to the 125 feet of inflatable Air Fence IIs already purchased and used at the first two PR dates. The new safety equipment will be deployed in Turn 8 at PR, where two crashes resulting in transports (and broken bones) have already happened in 2002, and in Turn 7.

Purchase of all 350 feet of Air Fence* has been made possible by private donations, including a large donation from the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund, many individual club members, members of the local motorcycle industry, and supporters of safer racing in the Northwest. WMRRA would like to sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to the WMRRA Air Fence* Fund, especially John Ulrich and the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund.

The full amount needed to pay for the equipment has not yet been raised, though. The fund is still several thousand dollars short. However, in one last push to pay the Air Fence* bill, an anonymous donor has stepped forward and pledged to match, dollar for dollar, any donations made between now and the end of June. So far, $1500 has been donated that will be matched.

More information is available from Briggs Willoughby ([email protected]) (425)254-0141.

Donations can be sent to:
WMRRA Air Fence Fund
c/o Briggs Willoughby
12044 SE 76th st
Newcastle, WA 98056

*Air Fence is a trademark of Air Fence Safety Systems.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

At a recent dealer meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Yamaha Motor Corporation celebrated the 25th anniversary of its formation as a stand-alone motor company, (versus being part of Yamaha International, which also distributed musical instruments in the U.S.), announced impressive growth numbers and introduced some 2003 models.

Yamaha Public Relations Manager Brad Banister told Roadracingworld.com “Yamaha has outpaced the industry in terms of growth and in the past seven years has grown in market share from 13 to 20 percent.”

With news of the 2003-model YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and Roadstar Warrior still to come later this year, Yamaha showed dealers the 2003-model FZ-1, which now comes with a matte black frame and a yellow and black body color option. The FZ-1 will still be available in blue or silver. Other sportbikes returning to Yamaha’s line-up for 2003 include the FJR1300 supersport tourer and the YZF600R sportbike.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Alex Gobert broke three bones in his right foot Wednesday in a crash at Lake Elsinore Motocross Park near his home in Lake Elsinore, California. Reached Wednesday night, 18-year-old Gobert said, “It was the first lap out and I went off this table-top jump and got no lift. I cased the front wheel and went over the bars. I think the bike landed on my foot.”

Gobert called his older brother Aaron, who has only been back in America for a few days, to come pick him up and take him to the hospital. Aaron actually left a physical therapy session to come to Alex’s aid.

Alex Gobert was treated and released from Inland Valley Medical Center and said he planned to see an orthopedist recommended by Inland Valley on Thursday. Although the doctor at Inland Valley told Alex Gobert that he would be out for six to eight weeks, the youngest Gobert brother said he expected his recovery to be more like two weeks and didn’t want to rule out riding at Brainerd, June 28-30.

Aaron Gobert, age 21, said he is making final preparations for a racing return at Laguna Seca July 11-14. Aaron Gobert is attending physical therapy session every other day, and recently began walking without crutches for the first time since his horrible highside crash at the exit of Daytona’s chicane in early March.

Contacted Thursday morning, Anthony Gobert said “everything’s going great” with his recovery from a broken leg and dislocated ankle, the result of a crash at Road Atlanta. “I started physio this week and the doctors are surprised at how much movement I have in the ankle already.”

Anthony Gobert said that he hoped to be back for Laguna Seca but did not know which classes he would race in. Gobert added that there is no truth to the report that Yamaha has sent in a special YZF-R7 Superbike for him to ride in the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca. “Where would they get it from? Who has a bike better than mine?” Gobert asked rhetorically.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Dan Murphy of RPM (Race Promotion Management), which promotes the World Superbike race at Laguna Seca, asked Roadracingworld.com readers to help decide which AMA riders should get the six World Superbike entries available for Laguna Seca July 11-14.

Eric Bostrom is guaranteed an entry because he’s been racing in the World Superbike Series already. Ben Bostrom and Colin Edwards are World Superbike regulars. So they don’t count against the six available entries.

The following nine AMA Superbike riders have submitted entries. Only six will be accepted.

1. Nicky Hayden

2. Aaron Yates

3. Anthony Gobert

4. Miguel Duhamel

5. Pascal Picotte

6. Jamie Hacking

7. Mat Mladin

8. Doug Chandler

9. Kurtis Roberts

Roadracingworld.com readers were able to cast votes for the six AMA Superbike riders they thought should be accepted for the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca by clicking on a link to a voting page.

Voting has now concluded.

Final results, after duplicate votes were removed (as of 1:00 p.m. EDT, June 20):

1487 Nicky Hayden
1414 Aaron Yates
1396 Miguel Duhamel
1284 Anthony Gobert
1115 Mat Mladin
972 Doug Chandler
662 Pascal Picotte
417 Jamie Hacking
247 Kurtis Roberts

1499 TOTAL NON-DUPLICATED VOTERS

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Alex Gobert, injured in a motocross crash Wednesday, is returning to Australia Thursday night in order to have surgery performed on his broken right foot.

“It’s a bit worse than we thought,” said 18-year-old Gobert Thursday. “The doctor today said I needed to get two or three screws put in it and have it in a proper cast for four weeks. After that I need to have it in a soft cast for another four weeks, but I’m hoping it will go a bit quicker.”

After hearing the pessimistic prognosis, Gobert decided to return to Australia and have the Gobert’s family orthopedist, the same doctor who has been working with Aaron Gobert, provide a second opinion and perform the surgery.

Before catching his 10:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) flight to Australia, Alex Gobert said that he hoped to return to race in the AMA finale at Virginia International Raceway in August.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Mat Oxley

Three-time 500cc World Champion King Kenny Roberts has confirmed that he is building a V5 four-stroke for next year’s MotoGP series. He is the first rival manufacturer to follow the winning lead of Honda’s all-conquering RCV.

Like many MotoGP insiders, Roberts has predicted that all the big teams will gravitate to the same engine configuration, and right now the V5 seems the favorite option.

MotoGP regs offer a sliding minimum weight limit according to the number of cylinders in a machine, and since Fours and Fives run the same 145-kilogram limit, five pistons make all kinds of sense.

Roberts’ team, backed by Malaysian interests, currently races with the Proton-badged KR3 two-stroke V3.